The Government has been urged by the Sinn Féin president, Mr Gerry Adams, to put pressure on the British government to combat loyalist sectarianism in Northern Ireland. The call was made during a meeting between the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, Mr Adams and his colleague, Mr Martin McGuinness.
Sinn Féin has prepared a list of 363 attacks which it alleges have been committed against Catholics by loyalist gangs over the last three months in Belfast and surrounding areas. "We have asked them to take the figures which we have given them and to go to the British government and to ask the British government what they are doing about sorting this out and to face up to it."
The list has not been checked line by line by Foreign Affairs officials, but Government sources told The Irish Times they believe it accurately reflects the upsurge in violence against Catholics.
